All Wet

Of the past sixteen months, only one month has had average rainfall. Although it has rained in London over the weekend, causing drains to overflow and showcasing admirably the water retention capacity of our roads and pavements, tomorrow Thames Water will probably announce the first hosepipe ban of the year. On behalf of the water companies, the shadow environment secretary said that they did not know "whether we're seeing a long-term trend influenced by climate change, or it's just a one in a hundred [year event]." A spokesman for Thames Water delivered the usual homily about turning off the tap while you brush your teeth, which is "a step away" from the nightmare scenario of turning off supplies. In order to encourage people in taking such humble steps, Thames Water denied that the shortages were "solely due" to leakages from the pipe system, which lose a third of the supply between the reservoir and the taps. Thames Water "is spending £1bn over five years replacing and fixing pipes" - at great personal sacrifice from its Board of Directors, no doubt.